THE NEUROPATHOLOGIC BASIS OF MAJOR AFFECTIVE-DISORDERS - NEUROANATOMICAL INSIGHTS

Attempts to elucidate the pathophysiology of symptom production in moo d disorders can be enhanced by information from two sources. First, in sights into localization can be gained from the secondary mood disorde rs; these clinical problems suggest the brain regions that, when alter ed, are associated with specific symptoms. Second, both structural and functional brain imaging suggest specific regions where abnormalities are associated with mood disorders. Data that emerge from these sourc es implicate the basal ganglia, frontal cortex, and temporal lobes in the production of mood disorder symptoms. However, the specific neuroa natomic subregions involved and the associated biochemical changes awa it full elucidation.